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Ever-Increasing Graffiti

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Communications, Livability

According to a recent report to City Council by Juliette Muracchioli from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s (ONI) Graffiti Abatement Program, high priority graffiti reports involving hate or gang tags have increased considerably from 2011 through 2016. Much of this increase has occurred in the past two to three years.

The cost of damages in Portland due to graffiti is now roughly $1.8 million.

For many years, Portland was nationally acclaimed for its Graffiti Abatement Program, but budgetary restraints no longer allow us that distinction. Graffiti abatement is essential in maintaining Portland’s quality of life and keeping neighborhoods safe and livable. The failure to properly enforce our graffiti laws encourages an influx of taggers from all over the country.

ONI is asking City Council to not only maintain current budget levels, but to expand it so that Portland can better combat this crime (Oregon Statue 164.381-388).

Author: Bill Bagnall

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Posted By Adonay Solleiroon November 25, 2013

Do you like living in the Pearl? Have you asked how you could help to make it one of Portland’s most livable neighborhoods? We have a place for you!
Many Pearl residents are volunteering as “Graffiti Busters”. Each person is trained in graffiti removal and assigned a block to observe. We are in need of more eyes on the street. If you would like to assist in this endeavor please attend the next Livability Committee meeting on Monday, January 6th. Come to talk to folks who have been active in graffiti removal and see if this is something you would like to do.
The Livability and Safety Committee concerns itself with livability issues after buildings are up and running. Trash, noise, and graffiti are among our concerns. Looking into the future we would like to sponsor a National Night Out in August 2014, A Neighborhood Watch team, and Friends of Tanner Springs Park. Each of these activities takes leadership and “do bees”. If you are interested in giving back to the community in one of these areas please come to a Livability and Safety Committee the first Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Cupcake Jones meeting room. And/or contact Joan Pendergast, Chair at jpenderx@mac.com.

Posted By johntarantino1on February 25, 2010

If you love the Mounted Police Unit, please write the City Council, the Mayor, the Portland Police Chief, and the Portland Central Precinct. With the current recession, the city of Portland is facing budget cuts, and unfortunately the Mounted Patrol Unit is being looked at for cuts.
In December 2009, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association made a motion and approved to write a letter of support for the MPU. They are a good asset to the community and an important aspect of our neighborhood and city. If the Mounted Patrol Unit is cut, the Pearl District will not feel the same without them.
A letter dated Jan 2nd was sent to the Police Chief to express neighborhood support for MPU. Steve Trujillo, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, who was involved in the budget talks, says he hopes the mounted unit is saved again. "We love the MPU," Trujillo said. "It's got a unique role."
Portland's Police Bureau estimates a $585,000 savings from scrapping the Mounted Patrol Unit, made up of six officers and one sergeant, and transferring four of the officers to Central Precinct's bike patrol. According to USA Today article titled "Mounted police fading in sunset?", the cuts reflect a trend that has been growing in recent years. There were more than 300 full-time mounted units in the U.S. a decade ago, and fewer than 100 remain. Their is a group on Facebook called Friends of Portland's Mounted Patrol with over 1000 members in support of saving the MPU. What will it take to save them from the budget cuts? It probably will take a public outcry...which successfully saved the MPU in the past. According to the Oregonian article titled Portland police propose cutting mounted patrol and leaving some positions vacant to balance budget

Portland's mounted patrol began as a three-person unit in the summer of 1979, then grew to seven officers and a sergeant by the following year. Its funding was cut in 1985. That spurred a public outcry, resulting in downtown business owners and a group called Save Our Steeds to keep the unit afloat for a few months, until the city restored funding in 1986.

Apparently, public hearings to address the program's future are planned for March. Once we find out more details on these public hearings, we hope that neighbors can create enough of an outcry to help save our friendly mounted horse patrol program.

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The Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) is one of Portland's 95 Neighborhood Associations. We are volunteers who live, work, or own property in the Pearl District. We work together to keep the neighborhood clean, safe, and fun.